COLUMBUS, Ohio – Once a wanton wiener dog, Dennis went on a diet and is now a happy shadow of his former self after losing more than 75 percent of his body weight.

Less than two years ago, Dennis weighed in at a whopping 56 pounds — about the size of four or five miniature dachshunds, which is what he is. A series of "before" photos show Dennis resting on rolls of fat, his head seemingly too little for his blob of a body. He couldn't take more than a few steps without being out of breath.

Then Brooke Burton adopted him from a relative who had fed him White Castle burgers, pizza and other human food, and didn't pay much attention to the dog's burgeoning belly.

Burton, 26, a nursing student, recalls how emotional she became when she first saw Dennis in June 2013, and then persuaded her relative to give him up.

"Out comes Dennis, and I couldn't believe it," Burton says. "I wasn't even sure what breed of dog he was supposed to be because he was so large."

Burton put him on diet of dry dog food, plus lots of walks and affection. Now the 6-year-old wiener dog is a svelte 12 pounds and happily chasing squirrels in the backyard, playing fetch and bossing around the other three rescue dogs that live with him.

"In the beginning, you could tell he was very depressed, that he really didn't feel good at all," Burton says. "He didn't have much of a personality. After he lost weight, this bossy little demanding man popped out. He's into everything, he wants to play with everybody."

Dennis lost so much weight that he started tripping over the folds of excess skin that were left over and getting infections. He has had three surgeries at the Ohio State University Veterinary Medical Center to get rid of it.

Dr. Kathleen Ham, the veterinary surgeon who performed the operations, says Dennis' story is a good lesson for pet owners who might feed their animals too much.

"We have an expression: Food is not love," Ham says. "Most of what your pet wants from you is affection and attention."

Firefighters use Jaws of Life to rescue trapped dog

OCEANSIDE, Calif. – Fire crews used the Jaws of Life to save a dog that wiggled between two storage containers at an elementary school, authorities in Southern California say.

A 12-year-old Rhodesian ridgeback got himself stuck around noon March 8 while playing with kids at a school playground, San Diego television station KNSD reports.

Officials say the dog apparently went deeper into the narrow space while trying to get out.

Oceanside and Carlsbad firefighters helped the owners free the dog by using the Jaws of Life to force the containers apart.

The dog, named Spike, then walked out on his own.

Farmer saves freezing calf with hot tub soak

ROSSVILLE, Ind. – A central Indiana farmer jumped into a hot tub with a shivering newborn calf to save the calf's life.

Carroll County farmer Dean Gangwer tells WRTV-TV he believes one of his cows gave birth in the snow and that he found the barely breathing newborn in a snowbank this week.

The third-generation farmer says he decided the quickest way to warm up the calf, named Leroy, would be to use his hot tub. Gangwer says he "jumped in fully dressed and held Leroy up so he didn't drown." Gangwer then took the calf inside and wrapped him in electric blankets.

Leroy is recovering and has started to nurse.

Gangwer said Leroy is "done hot-tubbing" but "sunbathing is definitely in his future out in the grass."

Police: Woman got naked at Dunkin' Donuts on a dare

GREENACRES, Fla. – A 32-year-old woman told police in Florida she got naked and sat outside a Dunkin' Donuts as a dare.

The Palm Beach Post reports Shakara Monik Martin was arrested March 8 in Greenacres near West Palm Beach.

According to a police report, Martin told authorities the dare was part of a pledge to a dance troop, which wasn't identified.

Witnesses told police Martin was offered clothes several times, but she refused to take them. She began apologizing when police arrived.

She faces a charge of indecent exposure. Martin appeared in court March 9 and was released on her own recognizance.

TSA spokeswoman Lisa Farbstein says the black, hard-sided suitcase was in a checked-baggage area Tuesday when an unknown-contents alarm indicated an officer should inspect the case.

Those unknown contents proved to be her beige and tan chihuahua.

TSA says the owner had no idea that her little dog had crawled in and curled up while she was packing for a flight to Los Angeles.

The woman's husband came to the airport and took the dog home.

Police: 2 dead skunks found with 'Obama Stinks' sign

FAIRFIELD, Conn. – Police are investigating the discovery of two dead skunks with a sign reading "Obama Stinks."

One skunk had string wrapped around its neck and was nailed to a telephone pole, while the other was found at the base. The sign with the anti-Obama message was attached to the pole and also had an American flag with a hammer and sickle in place of the stars.

A woman who noticed the dead animals called Fairfield police at 8:40 a.m. March 10.

Fairfield Police Lt. James Perez said authorities aren't sure what to make of the sign.

Anyone with information that may be helpful is urged to contact police or animal control.

Inmate admits sending Obama letter threat to wrong address

PITTSBURGH – A man convicted of child molestation has admitted mailing a threatening letter from a western Pennsylvania prison to President Barack Obama — albeit to the wrong address.

Joseph Savage pleaded guilty March 11 in federal court to counts of threatening the president and threatening the president's family.

Prosecutors say Savage was awaiting trial in Fayette County Prison in October 2012 when he sent a letter threatening to "torture and murder" the president and harm a member of the president's family.

The letter was mailed to 1400 Pennsylvania Ave. in Washington. The White House is at 1600 Pennsylvania Ave. but received the letter anyway.

Savage is serving 121/2 to 25 years on convictions of making terroristic threats, aggravated indecent assault on a child and corruption of minors.

Man rolls in dog poop to try avoiding arrest; plan fails

WILKES-BARRE, Pa. – A Pennsylvania man dropped to the ground and rolled around in dog waste to avoid being arrested for public drunkenness, but he was taken into custody anyway, police say.

Police tell the Times Leader officers came upon Maurice Franklin, 45, early in the evening of March 9 after he jumped into traffic. They believed he was under the influence of drugs or alcohol.

They say he slurred his words and at first claimed he was walking erratically to avoid stepping in the dog feces on the sidewalk.

But when officers tried to arrest him, police say he lay down in the waste and told authorities they couldn't arrest him because he was covered in feces.

Church with naked paint parties loses tax-exempt status

PANAMA CITY BEACH, Fla. – A Florida church that hosted naked paint parties and slumber-party Sundays featuring the "sexiest ladies on the beach" has lost its tax-exempt status.

The News Herald of Panama City reports that The Life Center: A Spiritual Community has been operating a seven-day-a-week party called Amnesia: The Tabernacle since Feb. 28.

A sign on the door says events are alcohol- and drug-free, but Sheriff Frank McKeithen calls the party atmosphere a "blatant slap in the face" to taxpayers. He says church officials are "trying to get around the laws."

Patrons are charged a "donation" of $20 at the door. On the walls inside are T-shirts emblazoned with obscene gestures and signs that say "I hate being sober."

This led property appraiser Dan Sowell to change the tax-exempt status.

Idaho fugitive caught after posting plans on Facebook

CALDWELL, Idaho – An Idaho fugitive was caught March 7 after he made a post on Facebook inviting friends to join him at batting practice in Boise.

Caldwell police officers showed up at the softball field after seeing the post on social media and arrested Joey Patterson, 22, KTVB-TV says.

He was wanted on a felony warrant for violating his probation on a fraud case out of Twin Falls. Patterson was booked into Canyon County Jail, where he was being held without bond.

Caldwell Police Sgt. Joey Hoadley says police often use social media to track fugitives. Hoadley says "even fugitives can't keep from updating their Facebook status, and it leads to some great arrests."

Imprint of license plate in snow leads to burglary suspects

LAKEVILLE, Mass. – The imprint of a license plate in a snowbank proved to be the undoing of a couple suspected of a series of burglaries.

A Lakeville police officer investigating a home break-in traced the imprint to a pickup truck that matched the description of a vehicle seen at other burglaries.

Chief Frank Alvilhiera told The Enterprise of Brockton on March 9 that the truck was traced to a Dartmouth hotel.

A search of a hotel room uncovered more than 300 stolen items, including jewelry, watches, wallets, laptops and cameras. Alvilhiera estimates the goods are worth at least $10,000.

Meanwhile, Robert Beaucaire and Amy Peters face charges including breaking and entering and larceny.

Ex-con admits robbing same shoe store 15 years later

TOMS RIVER, N.J. – An ex-con who had just finished a 15-year robbery sentence has admitted he robbed the same New Jersey shoe store — as the same clerk was behind the counter.

Christopher Miller, 41, robbed the Stride Rite store in Toms River in March 2014, police say, a day after he was released from prison after finishing his jail term for the first robbery.

Police say Miller made off with $389 and fled on foot with the employees' cellphones.

The clerk had been notified about Miller's release and identified the suspect as the same person who had robbed the store in 1999.

Miller pleaded guilty to second-degree robbery on Monday. He faces a prison term of 10 to 20 years in prison when he's sentenced in May.

Raccoon's freedom costs San Francisco carpenter his job

SAN FRANCISCO – A carpenter has been fired for freeing a raccoon that had been trapped by exterminators at the San Francisco construction site where he worked.

Todd Sutton tells the San Francisco Chronicle that he came to work one morning in late February and saw the animal inside a trap.

The builders had hired professional trappers to have the critter — which was blamed for damage at the $610 million project — removed and euthanized.

But the 49-year-old carpenter says he put the animal in his truck and released it in a nearby grassy area, after getting guidance from animal control officers.

His employer told the newspaper the move amounted to theft, because Sutton took something from the site that didn't belong to him.

Sutton has hired an attorney.

Trailer with tons of mozzarella stolen from truck stop

SUMMERFIELD, Fla. – Hold the cheese. Thieves made off with a refrigerated tractor-trailer filled with $85,000 worth of shredded mozzarella cheese bound for a Hungry Howies Pizza distribution center in central Florida.

The truck was reported stolen March 8.

The Ocala Star-Banner reports that the driver and his girlfriend left the trailer at a truck stop in Summerfield the night before while having a mechanic check the truck.

Marion County Sheriff's officials say the woman reported the truck was missing the next day. Deputies say a hauler was also reported missing from the lot Saturday, presumably to take the trailer.

The missing trailer has white mud flaps with "Hudsonville Trailer Sales" on them. It also has a Michigan license plate. The trailer is valued at $62,000.

Owner of Maine inn holds essay contest to select new owner

LOVELL, Maine – A woman who won a Maine country inn in an essay writing contest more than two decades ago wants to give it away in the same manner.

Janice Sage is asking prospective owners of the Center Lovell Inn and Restaurant to persuade her why they should have the opportunity take over the facility in 200 words or less.

Sage tells The Boston Globe wants to retire after 22 years of 17-hour days of pleasing guests, cooking, cleaning and just maintaining the 210-year-old building.

Sage expects more than 7,500 entries. At $125 per entry, the total could end up surpassing the inn's estimated $900,000 value.

She will pick the best 20 entries by May 17 and pass them to two anonymous judges, who will select a winner by May 21.

Best-laid Plagnes of skiers in France can go badly wrong

BRUSSELS – Skiers, beware! La Plagne may be a bustling ski resort in the Alps but a badly programmed bus global positioning system won't be able to distinguish it from Plagne, population 91, and some 560 miles away.

When a local Belgian radio station took several busloads of youngsters to go skiing, passengers on one bus were surprised to wake among southern French vineyards close to Spain. There is a Plagne close to Spain, and then there is the famous La Plagne.

Studio Brussels radio station talked to a bus official who said there were too many Plagnes. "We put the wrong one in. We didn't have the postal code." By March 10 though, the wayward skiers had rejoined the pack of revelers.

Police: Online suitor stole woman's car during first date

WATERFORD TOWNSHIP, N.J. – A man who allegedly stole a woman's car during their first date last month has been captured.

Waterford Township police say Gerald Tietz, 53, was arrested March 7 after the vehicle — which had the vanity plate "JSRYGRL" — was spotted in Cherry Hill.

Tietz and the woman, identified only as a New Jersey resident, became acquainted online and decide to meet on Feb. 26. Tietz allegedly told the woman his name was Gennaro Aladena and that he went by the nickname "Gooch."

At some point that evening, police say Tietz got the woman's car keys and took her vehicle.

Cops: Man throws 'Jesus' license plate at brother, cuts him

POINT MARION, Pa. – A man threw a "Jesus" vanity license plate at his older brother during a fight in Pennsylvania, cutting him badly enough to require treatment by paramedics, state police say.

James Wiles, 45, of Springhill Township, was charged with simple assault and harassment over the argument with his 47-year-old brother on Feb. 24.

Police say Wiles' brother was cut by the plate's sharp edge.

A preliminary hearing on the charges was scheduled for March 31. A district judge in Fayette County will determine then whether Wiles will stand trial.

Girl Scouts aim to boost cookie sales with a drive-through

SALEM, N.H. – Taking a page from successful fast-food restaurants, a New Hampshire Girl Scout troop is seeking to boost its cookie sales by offering a drive-through option.

Troop 12115 was selling cookies March 8 at a vacant warehouse property on heavily trafficked Main Street.

The troop had sold 1,200 boxes and hoped the drive-through would help Scouts reach their goal of 5,000 boxes sold.

Troop leaders tell WMUR-TV the annual cookie sale program not only satisfies customers' love of the distinctive cookies, but teaches Scouts valuable business and people skills.

The Utah Department of Public Safety imposed the discipline in December on Rob Wilkinson, a Utah Highway Patrol sergeant, and Justin Hansen, a State Bureau of Investigation agent.

The department released its discipline records after receiving a request to obtain them by The Salt Lake Tribune.

Wilkinson, who received a three-day suspension, and Hansen, who received a one-day suspension, were at the Big Shot Ranch near Grantsville in June when British bikini models posed for photos and were videotaped firing guns for a calendar.

Among other violations, the records show the two were disciplined for conduct that brings discredit to an officer or agency.

Airport security mix-up sends NFL player to Utah school

LEHI, Utah – An airport security mix-up helped a Utah principal land an appearance by an NFL player at her school.

Kyle Van Noy, a Detroit Lions linebacker and former Brigham Young University player, and Ilene Strong, principal at Traverse Mountain Elementary in Lehi, mistakenly picked up each other's laptops from security bins at Salt Lake City International Airport last week.

Van Noy was on his way to Miami when he opened the laptop to find Strong's email was open, The Daily Herald of Provo reported. He contacted Strong's secretary, who informed the principal of the mix-up upon her arrival in Minnesota.

Strong then was put in contact with Van Noy by Reno Mahe, another former BYU football player who has children at Traverse Mountain Elementary.

Van Noy, the 40th pick overall in last year's NFL draft, showed up at the Provo-area school on Thursday to switch laptops. While there, the Reno, Nevada, native visited 35 classrooms and posed with about 1,000 students in photos.

"He started going from class to class," Strong said. "He was here an hour and a half to two hours. He just took time in every class, giving high-fives, taking questions. He was just a sweetheart. The kids just loved it."

Strong said she quit worrying about her laptop after she mentioned the name of the person who mistakenly picked it up to her husband, Greg.

"I just happened to say, 'What would some stranger named Kyle Van Noy do with my laptop?' " Strong told The Daily Herald. "Greg's eyes got huge. It was a good thing I said his name. He just started laughing and told me he was a professional football player."

Free groceries for shoppers after cash registers crash

RALEIGH, N.C. – Shoppers at a Harris Teeter supermarket in North Carolina's capital city have gotten a very big break on their bills.

WRAL in Raleigh reports the cash registers at the chain's Cameron Village store crashed on March 6. The station quoted a store manager as saying his team tried for 15 minutes to reboot the system at the checkout lines.

When their efforts failed, the manager decided the shoppers had waited long enough and allowed them to get their orders free of charge. Anyone already standing in line was allowed to leave without paying. It's not known how many shoppers enjoyed the windfall.

A Harris Teeter spokeswoman said she had no details on what caused the outage.

Secret to The Lumineers' success? A newspaper columnist

TRENTON, N.J. – A member of The Lumineers says a picture of a New Jersey newspaper columnist is the secret to the band's success.

On March 5, Jeremiah Fraites posted a picture of his keyboard on the folk rock band's Facebook, Instagram and Twitter accounts. Taped to the keyboard is a photograph of The Record political columnist Herb Jackson.

Fraites says he didn't know who Jackson was when he taped the picture to his keyboard 10 years ago but that "looking at him assures me creativity will flow."

Jackson writes from Washington for the northern New Jersey newspaper and website.

He wrote that the photo was "the most bizarre thing I've encountered in this job." He says he doesn't know what it is about the photo that's inspirational, but he's glad to help.